UFC 261
UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2 | ||||
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![]() The poster for UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2 | ||||
Information | ||||
Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
Date | April 24, 2021 | |||
Venue | VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena | |||
City | Jacksonville,Florida,United States | |||
Attendance | 15,269[1] | |||
Total gate | $3,300,000[1] | |||
Buyrate | 700,000[2] | |||
Event chronology | ||||
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UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2was amixed martial artsevent produced by theUltimate Fighting Championshipthat took place on April 24, 2021 atVyStar Veterans Memorial ArenainJacksonville, Florida,United States.[3][4]
Background
[edit]The promotion had initially planned to hold the event inSingapore.However, negotiations with the Singaporean government fizzled amongstCOVID-19 protocolsand the promotion initially turned to their home base of Las Vegas.[3]On March 15, UFC presidentDana Whiteannounced the event would be moved toJacksonville, Florida,with a full capacity of "15,000 UFC fans", marking the first time sinceUFC 248in March 2020 that a full capacity crowd would be available (the UFC hosted a trio of events inAbu Dhabiin January with a limited number of fans).[4]Jacksonville also hosted the UFC's first fights back after the start of theCOVID-19 pandemicin May 2020, before the organization started hosting events in either Las Vegas or Abu Dhabi.[4]
AUFC Welterweight Championshiprematch between the current championKamaru Usman(alsoThe Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilianswelterweight winner) andJorge Masvidalheadlined the event.[4]They previously met atUFC 251,where Usman defended his title via unanimous decision.[5]
AUFC Women's Strawweight Championshipbout between the current championZhang Weiliand former championRose Namajunastook place as the co-main event.[6][7]
AUFC Women's Flyweight Championshipbout between current championValentina Shevchenkoand former strawweight championJéssica Andradecompleted the triad of title fights.[8]
A middleweight rematch between formerUFC Middleweight ChampionChris WeidmanandUriah Hallwas expected to take place atUFC 258in February.[9]They met previously in September 2010 at a Ring of Combat event for the organization's middleweight title, with Weidman winning via TKO.[10]However, Weidman was pulled from that event in late-January due to apositive COVID-19 test.The pairing remained intact and eventually took place at this event.[11][12]
Johnny Walkerwas expected to faceJimmy Crutein a light heavyweight bout.[13]However, Walker pulled out due to an injury and was replaced by formerUFC Light Heavyweight ChampionshipchallengerAnthony Smith.[14]
Randy BrownandAlex Oliveirawere expected to meet in a welterweight bout atUFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane,but Brown pulled out due to undisclosed reasons.[15]They eventually fought each other at this event.[16]
A bantamweight bout between Mark Striegl and Johnny Muñoz was expected to take place at the event.[17]However, Striegl was removed from the bout on March 24 due to undisclosed reasons and replaced by Jamey Simmons.[18]In turn, Simmons also pulled out on April 8 for undisclosed reasons. As a result, Muñoz was removed from the card as well and will be rescheduled for a future event.[19]
Results
[edit]Main card | |||||||
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Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
Welterweight | Kamaru Usman(c) | def. | Jorge Masvidal | KO (punch) | 2 | 1:02 | [a] |
Women’s Strawweight | Rose Namajunas | def. | Zhang Weili(c) | KO (head kick) | 1 | 1:18 | [b] |
Women’s Flyweight | Valentina Shevchenko(c) | def. | Jéssica Andrade | TKO (elbows) | 2 | 3:19 | [c] |
Middleweight | Uriah Hall | def. | Chris Weidman | TKO (leg injury) | 1 | 0:17 | |
Light Heavyweight | Anthony Smith | def. | Jimmy Crute | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 1 | 5:00 | |
Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+) | |||||||
Welterweight | Randy Brown | def. | Alex Oliveira | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 2:50 | |
Welterweight | Dwight Grant | def. | Stefan Sekulić | Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
Middleweight | Brendan Allen | def. | Karl Roberson | Submission (ankle lock) | 1 | 4:55 | |
Featherweight | Pat Sabatini | def. | Tristan Connelly | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
Early preliminary card (ESPN2 / ESPN+) | |||||||
Bantamweight | Danaa Batgerel | def. | Kevin Natividad | TKO (punches) | 1 | 0:50 | |
Lightweight | Kazula Vargas | def. | Rong Zhu | Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
Flyweight | Jeff Molina | def. | Aori Qileng | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
Women’s Strawweight | Ariane Carnelossi | def. | Na Liang | TKO (punches) | 2 | 1:28 |
- ^For theUFC Welterweight Championship.
- ^For theUFC Women's Strawweight Championship.
- ^For theUFC Women's Flyweight Championship.
Bonus awards
[edit]The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[21]
- Fight of the Night: Jeff Molina vs. Aori Qileng
- Performance of the Night: Kamaru UsmanandRose Namajunas
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abMike Bohn (2021-04-25)."UFC 261 post-event facts: Kamaru Usman's octagon streak hits rarified air".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-04-26.
- ^Mookie Alexander (2021-04-27)."Report: UFC 261 generated over 700,000 domestic pay-per-view buys".bloodyelbow.Retrieved2021-04-27.
- ^abRaphael Marinho (2021-02-18)."Without agreement to perform UFC 261 in Singapore, UFC opts for Las Vegas".globoesporte.globo.Retrieved2021-02-18.(in Portuguese)
- ^abcdStaff (2021-03-15)."UFC 261 heads to Florida with Usman-Masvidal 2 leading three title fights in front of full crowd".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-03-15.
- ^Andreas Hale (2020-07-14)."UFC 251 results: Kamaru Usman dominates Jorge Masvidal to retain UFC Welterweight title".dazn.Retrieved2021-03-16.
- ^Ariel Helwani (2021-02-26)."Sources: Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas for strawweight title being targeted for UFC 261".espn.Retrieved2021-03-12.
- ^Mathew Scott (2021-03-09)."UFC 261: Zhang Weili confirmed to fight Rose Namajunas on April 24 in strawweight title clash".scmp.Retrieved2021-03-12.
- ^Brett Okamoto (2021-02-24)."Valentina Shevchenko-Jessica Andrade flyweight title fight set for UFC 261".espn.Retrieved2021-02-24.
- ^Mike Bohn (2020-11-17)."Uriah Hall, Chris Weidman agree to rematch at UFC 258 on Feb. 13".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-01-28.
- ^Keith D'Souza (2020-12-09)."Uriah Hall set to rematch Chris Weidman at UFC 258".essentiallysports.Retrieved2021-01-29.
- ^Ariel Helwani (2021-01-28)."Chris Weidman tests positive for COVID-19, bout vs. Uriah Hall now off".espn.Retrieved2021-01-28.
- ^Mike Bohn (2021-01-29)."Uriah Hall vs. Chris Weidman rematch shifts from UFC 258 to UFC 261 after positive COVID-19 result".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-01-29.
- ^Brett Okamoto (2021-01-02)."UFC light heavyweights Jimmy Crute, Johnny Walker agree to March 27 fight, sources say".espn.Retrieved2021-03-12.
- ^Danny Segura (2021-02-09)."Anthony Smith replaces Johnny Walker, meets Jimmy Crute at UFC 261 in April".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-02-09.
- ^John Morgan (2021-02-22)."Randy Brown out of UFC Fight Night 186; Alex Oliveira needs new opponent".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-02-22.
- ^Staff (2021-03-24)."Rescheduled matchup of Randy Brown vs. Alex Oliveira among additions to UFC 261".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-03-28.
- ^Mike Heck (2021-03-03)."Johnny Munoz vs. Mark Striegl added to UFC 261".mmafighting.Retrieved2021-03-24.
- ^Nolan King (2021-03-24)."With Mark Striegl out, Jamey Simmons targeted to fight Johnny Munoz at UFC 261".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-03-24.
- ^Jack Welch (2021-04-08)."Johnny Munoz vs Jamey Simmons off for UFC 261".behindthegrind.co.Retrieved2021-04-19.
- ^"UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2".Ultimate Fighting Championship. 5 March 2021.Retrieved2021-03-12.
- ^Staff (2021-04-25)."UFC 261 bonuses: Kamaru Usman, Rose Namajunas among $50,000 no-brainers".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-04-25.